A Personal Plea for Clemency: Governor Hochul, You Can Help Right This Wrong

Dear Governor Hochul,

You’ve built a reputation for taking decisive action when it comes to justice. From your recent efforts to reform the clemency process to the pardons and commutations you’ve granted, you’ve shown the power of compassion in governance. It’s clear that you believe in giving people the opportunity to rebuild their lives — especially when they’ve demonstrated rehabilitation, service to others, and personal growth.

Pablo Garcia embodies those values. He’s someone who has spent 15 years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit, and during that time, he’s devoted himself to bettering not just his own life, but the lives of those around him. But what makes Pablo’s case even more compelling is that, before this wrongful conviction, he was already a responsible, hardworking, and compassionate individual. His life was on a positive path long before the system unjustly derailed it. We know how seriously you take the responsibility of clemency, and we believe Pablo’s case is one that deserves your careful consideration.

Pablo’s Journey: A Story of Resilience and Injustice

Pablo, like so many others who have applied for clemency, has shown remarkable resilience. Wrongfully convicted based on unreliable witness testimony and flawed DNA evidence, he’s maintained his innocence from day one. His case, much like the ones you’ve recently reviewed, involved prosecutorial misconduct and a failure of the system to provide a fair trial.

Yet despite the injustice he has faced, Pablo has used his time in prison to make a positive impact. He’s mentored and tutored fellow incarcerated individuals in subjects like English and math, helping them prepare for their college entry exams. He’s earned a place on the President’s List at SUNY Ulster, where he’s majoring in Sociology — a field that has given him a deep understanding of the social justice issues that impact so many in our prison system.

What makes Pablo’s story even more compelling is who he was before this wrongful conviction. At the time of his arrest, Pablo was excelling in school, working full-time, and focused on building a bright future for himself. He was majoring in Computer Networking with a minor in Sociology — while working hard to support himself and his dreams. Pablo had always been a role model in his community and a source of pride for his family. His life before the wrongful conviction demonstrates that Pablo was a responsible and ambitious young man who had no intention of straying from the right path. Despite the profound injustice he has endured, this tragedy did not change the person he was — it simply showed his strength of character even more.

Pablo’s Commitment to Uplifting Others

Pablo’s not just focused on his own life, though. He’s developed a comprehensive plan for a nonprofit called B.A.T.T.L.E. (Born Again To Teach & Love Everyone), which is designed to help low-income families by providing education, job placement, and counseling services. This vision for the future shows that his heart and mind are in the right place. He’s committed to using his own life experiences to uplift others — exactly the kind of individual your clemency actions have helped in the past.

Governor Hochul: A Track Record of Compassion

We’ve watched you make strides in reforming the clemency process, taking it from something that happened only at the end of the year to a more transparent, ongoing practice. The creation of the Clemency Advisory Panel and the increased communication with applicants has given hope to many individuals like Pablo who have worked to improve themselves and their communities during their time behind bars.

You’ve spoken about how clemency is one of the most solemn responsibilities a governor holds, and we know you don’t take that lightly. The individuals you’ve granted clemency to have often been those who’ve demonstrated rehabilitation, commitment to helping others, and the desire to make a positive contribution to society. Pablo is no different.

We know there are many cases before you, but we believe that Pablo’s is one that truly deserves your attention. He has demonstrated every quality that you’ve identified as important in a clemency candidate: resilience, rehabilitation, and a deep commitment to giving back to the community.

Why Pablo’s Case Matters

Pablo’s wrongful conviction is a miscarriage of justice that needs to be corrected. The testimony against him was unreliable, and the DNA evidence that was used to convict him was based on discredited methods. But beyond the legal facts, Pablo’s case is about something larger: the ability to give someone their life back when they’ve been wrongfully taken from their family and their community.

Governor Hochul, your leadership has already changed so many lives. You’ve been willing to look at each case individually, to see the humanity in every person’s story. We ask that you look at Pablo’s case in the same way. He has proven that he is committed to rehabilitation and service, and he is ready to continue his journey on the outside — helping others, contributing to society, and building a better future for himself and his community.

A Final Thought

Pablo Garcia doesn’t just need clemency — he deserves it. His story is one of resilience, growth, and the unwavering belief in justice. He was a person of integrity before this injustice, and despite all he has endured, he remains that person today. And you, Governor Hochul, have the power to bring that justice to him.

Please consider granting clemency to Pablo Garcia. Help us bring him home to his family and allow him the chance to fulfill his vision of making the world a better place.

With deep respect and hope,
The Supporters of Pablo Garcia